"Does that bother you?" I point to Alison who's acting like a door-to-door Jehovah's Witness.

"Alison going to bat for Tony?" Trevor smirks. "No."

"So, I can finally stop feeling bad about breaking up the happy couple," I sighed.

"Yes, give yourself a break. I did like her...but in a more than a one-night stand, less than a girlfriend way."

"Like Colleen."

"Exactly like Colleen...with a tad more romance because," he chuckled, "I'm not a monster."

I guess it's true then. I smile, "I'm worse than you."

"Everyone is. But with this face comes infamy."

"Speaking of infamous faces," I say as I see Heather getting out of the car.

"You're welcome for the rekindling, by the way."

"Thanks, I missed her."

"Stop trying to get rid of the boyfriend. She'll remember that when they break up."

"Wish they'd hurry it up already."

"If you were him— how quickly would you want to go back to dating generic brand girls?"

"Heather," Alison sighed exasperatedly. "I need you to sign my petition."

"Sure, what's it for?"

"Tony— he's in trouble and they're being completely unfair."

"Is he suspended?"

"I don't know."

Heather gives her a questioning expression. "What?"

"He won't return my calls, and I haven't seen him today."

"His parents are strict, Ali. They're sure to have him locked down in solitary," Trevor said.

"Are we talking about Tony?" Ethan walks up to us. "I went by his place last night and his mom wouldn't even let me speak to him. It's a good thing he's already a silent partner."

Alison frowned at the news. "Sign this."

Ethan takes the petition. "What'd he do anyway?"

"He told a little white lie, and everyone is overreacting."

"Including you— we don't even know his punishment yet," Heather tries to calm her.

"If it were Leo-"

"If it were Leo, I'd know he actually did something to deserve the punishment."

I raise an eyebrow. "Like have sex on school grounds?"

Everyone looks at her...and she stares blankly back at me as if I haven't said enough— or maybe I've said too much. I'm guessing the latter.

"Who told you that?"

"That was a pretty big risk to take, especially for you." The Heather I knew was good to a fault.

"As if you're not also in the Addington high club," Trevor defends, "We all are, it's not like we come here to learn."

"I'm not," Alison says, giving us all shocked and disappointed looks.

"Ha," Trevor smiles, "yet you're the one on trial, Missus Faust."

"Sick, disgusting rumors that came from a total misunderstanding," Alison scoffed.

"Yes, I'm sure you misunderstood all over him."

"It's so common," Ethan joined in on the teasing, "Things get lost in translation, and suddenly your naked and gagged with a tie."

You would have a fantastic therapy session tape. Why did I get stuck with Alison's?

"That sounds oddly specific. What are you doing in your spare time?" Heather crossed her arms.

"Nothing your innocent ears should hear of," Ethan smirked at the thought...and then frowned when another one came into his head, "Nothing at all until my secretarial girlfriend realizes I have nothing to be sorry for."

"Perhaps there are some things," Trevor suggests.

"I can name a few," Heather adds.

"Me too," I agree.

"You have a lot to be sorry for," Alison says in disbelief.

"Well, I'm not dating any of you," Ethan shrugged, remorselessly.

"Good, I don't think I like what you do with ties," Heather argued.

"Don't be boring."

"Don't be deranged."

"I can see why you broke up with Jace."

"What?" I say offended. "Gagging her would not have made her like me more."

"You'd be surprised."

"Audrey, sign this petition?" Alison's voice causes our conversation to come to a halt, or more so the name she uttered. "It's for Tony."

We all look at her, I mean, I heard what happened and I'm sure Heather has too...there's an undeniable rift in our battered friend group. This time it's not because of me.

Audrey's gaze shifted from Alison...to Heather...and then to us guys. No one said anything. No "hi's" or "hello's..." so she just walked away.

"Why are you out here?" Charlie stares down at me sitting on the floor by the lockers.

"I think...I don't know."

"Aren't you hungry?"

"Not really." I'm starving but..."I can't go into the cafeteria."

He sits down beside me. "Is it Drew?"

"No."

It took him a minute to realize I wasn't going to tell him what was keeping me on the floor rather than in the lunchroom. But when he finally realized, he went into his bag and took out his food, ready to hide away from the unknown.

"My mom made me a turkey sandwich."

"She still makes your lunch?"

"Yeah."

"That's nice."

"Want half?"

"Sure," I grab it from him, "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Is McKayla in there?"

"Mhm."

"Isn't lunch the only time you get to talk to her?"

"Yeah."

Then why are you sitting out here like we're both losers when it's just me?

I sigh guiltily, "Evan doesn't like me anymore, and it's kinda my fault, so I don't want to go in there."

"Is he being mean?"

"He wouldn't do that." Though I can tell he wants to. It's hard for him to actually be mean to me.

"Well, I still like you."

"Thanks, Charlie."

"We can find a different lunch table. And I can hang out with you this summer if Evan doesn't want to— if your other friends are busy or something."

I laugh to myself, "For sure. I'd like that."

"Awesome.

"You're a good friend, you know?" I don't know why I've always taken you for granted.

"Thanks, you're a good friend too...you're like my only friend."

"Not true. You've got other people. And some friend I am letting you stay with me instead of going to your crush."

"She doesn't like me back," he shrugged. "Besides, I've never had a girlfriend, so I wouldn't know for sure, but I think it's better to just have friends anyway. Everyone's happy with their friends."

"It is better." Where was this advice when I needed it? "Hey, can you help me do something? I don't want to go in there by myself."

"Yeah, I'll help," Charlie said, popping a grape into his mouth and then shoving all the food back into his bag. "Let's go."

Right, let's go with you holding me up because I might pass out when Evan looks at me.

We walk side by side into the lunchroom, and I fix in on the sight of our once unpopular table. He's so annoying, drawing people to him without even meaning to. It's like he's covered in honey and we're all the stupid lint and dust ready to get stuck to him.

I could never be the only one stuck to you.

"Hey."

He glances up at me, "What's up?"

"Do you still hate me too much to talk to me?"

"Depends on what you have to say."

"No pressure..." I laugh uncomfortably, but Evan doesn't even crack a smile. "Right...so...I don't want to lose you as a friend, and that happens every time we start up again...so we have to stop...for real this time. Aaron's great and you're too cool to have to compete with someone."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Whatever," he shrugs and looks away from me.

I'm really trying here.

"Whatever?"

"See you around."

"Yeah...sure."

See you around.

Liar.

You'll avoid me for the last few weeks of school...and not even talk to me when we come back in the fall.

That makes me feel sick.

Too much to feel embarrassed that an entire table of people are watching me walk away pathetically.

"Wait, him?" Charlie chases after me. "How did I not see this coming?"

"Are we going to your house after?" Heather says quietly to me. She's comfortable at my friends' house but still chooses my lap over an actual seat.

I inhale sharply, "we should go to yours. My mom's home."

She knocks a lot when we're in the room together— offering snacks and shit like that just to see what we're doing.

"What'd you tell her about your face, fight club?" Amanda pokes the bruise on my cheek.

"I told her some dudes were picking on Matt and I jumped in."

"You grounded?"

"Nah, I just got a lecture. I probably would've been in more trouble if she saw me right after the fight. But Heather cleaned me up pretty good," I said while looking up at her as she smiled at me.

"We both got beat up, but you got to play patient and sexy nurse while I limped home?" Matt complained.

"Shut up," I laugh, "don't act like your parents didn't try some herbal healing shit on you or something as soon as you walked through the door."

"Not the same."

No, I definitely enjoyed the way I was taken care of more.

"Why'd you get beat up anyway? I don't get it," Jordan asked.

"I told Dane what happened and he said it's because we've been taking their customers, and even though I'm not selling on the corners or nothing, I was still on their streets."

"What's he gonna do about it?" Danny scowled.

Matt shrugs, "he said he'll deal with it, and I just have to protect myself if anything else goes down."

"Fuck that, when we find them I'll smash their skulls in until they can't remember what street they're on."

"We can keep lookout, make sure it's just the two of them," Jordan motions between him and a couple of friends.

"I'll hold 'em down so you can kick his jaw out of place," Danny said to me.

"Yeah?" I chuckle.

"No," Heather exclaimed.

"No?" Danny scowled.

"That is the worst idea anyone could have thought of."

"You think we should just lay back like it's okay if they beat on us?"

"You think you should start some pointless turf war?" Heather said in irritation, "Do you know how badly they could've been hurt? Leo's covered in bruises. He is still sore."

He sucked his teeth, "Then get off of his back."

"Alright, enough," I say to them both. It's silent for a moment— like a quiet second for me to pick a side...and when I don't, I hear Heather scoff before getting up and walking away.

I sigh as she disappears around the corner.

"You gonna run after her?" Danny asked in disdain.

"You gonna be mad if I do?"

"No, he's not," Amanda answers for him.

"What do you know?" He narrows his eyes at her.

"Stop being a dick."

"You first."

"I don't have to. Mine's bigger."

I stand up while they're bickering and gaze off to the side like she might just be behind the wall.

I'll fight with Danny later.

For now, where are you?

Not in the backyard. Not in the bedroom.

"Butterfly?" I knock on the door. "Can I come in?" She doesn't respond. "How are we supposed to talk if you're hiding in the bathroom the whole time?"

The door opens enough for her to scoff at me, "I'm not hiding."

I back her into the bathroom before she could stop me and closed the door behind us. She sighs and crosses her arms.

"You're not mad at me."

"I'm trying to be."

"Because that's always fun," I said sarcastically.

"He's going to make you fight those guys again, isn't he?"

"He can't make me do anything."

"He will because I don't want you to do it, and he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you."

"I don't care anymore. He's an idiot."

"You are mad," I chuckle, "But not at me."

"It's not funny," Heather rolled her eyes.

"No," I smirk, "a little hot, but that's not what's happening right now."

"No," she said sternly.

"Unless..." I say slyly and lean in closer to her.

"Leo," she turns her head so I can only kiss her neck.

"I'm not going after those guys with them," I mumbled between kisses, "You're right, I'm still sore."

"And it's too dangerous. They can be armed."

"Mhm," I agreed, hoping it'd be enough for her to accept the distraction I'm trying to give.

"Matt has a gun."

I lift my head and furrow my eyebrows at her. "What?"

"I saw it." I look toward the door, contemplating going to confront him, but Heather grabs my face to refocus me, "I'm not asking that you stop hanging out with him, but I'm begging you— be careful."

"I will."

"Promise me you won't do something that'll get you hurt."

"Okay."

"Promise me."

"Okay," I reply. "I promise."

"You've never broken a promise to me before."

"I know."

"Mr. Trevor? Are you cleaning up?" Harry asked, surprised to see me rearranging the guest room.

"Something of the sort. Does this look like a normal hotel room here?"

"Quite similar, yes."

"Great, hide these," I hand him a box of anything that can be identified as a personal item of ours.

Changing the duvet to the Palace's custom bedspread and moving around some furniture sets the stage.

"Will do," Harry nods.

"You wouldn't happen to know anything about camera installation, would you?"

"I can hire someone..."

"Yes, when the house is empty, have them install the camera in this room. Make it subtle."

"Mr. Trevor...what is it exactly that you're doing?"

"The less you know the better." It would be counterproductive if he got caught in the crossfire of this. When chaos inevitably erupts, I want Harry to be needed more than ever. "Actually, take the weekend off. You deserve it."

"Where will I go?"

"I'll get you a nice suite. I don't like when you're too far," because I value my independence to an extent of you.

"...Okay, Mr. Trevor," he said worriedly.

"I'm doing this for you, Harry," I reassure him.

"Doing what?"

"Not important."

"Please, do not cause trouble on my behalf."

"I want to keep you around for as long as you can deal with me."

"I would never go anywhere."

"I don't think you'd leave me either...willingly." Confusion covers his face, and I put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Harry. I will fix everything, and it can just be you and me here again. Consider it a token of my appreciation."